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Finalists Announced for the 7th Annual ABFF Comedy Wings Competition

COMEDIANS WILL FACE OFF FOR THE TOP SPOT IN MIAMI ON FRIDAY, JUNE 14TH

The 23rd American Black Film Festival held in Miami June 12-16

Los Angeles, CA, (April 17, 2019) – ABFF Ventures announced today their selection of finalists who will compete at the 7th annual ABFF Comedy Wings Competition, presented by HBO. Last night, nine comedians competed in the ABFF Comedy Wings Semifinals Showcase held at the HaHa Comedy Club in Los Angeles, hosted by Chris Spencer.

The contestants were judged by accomplished artists and industry executives, including “Def Comedy Jam” Producer Bob Sumner; Comedian and Actor Jay Phillips; Television Executive and Producer Rikki Hughes; Comedian and Actor Guy Torry; Comedian and Actor J.B. Smoove; Comedian and Actress Kym Whitley; Manager, Talent Development Robert Patla; Comedian and Actor Red Grant; ABFF Ventures CEO Jeff Friday, Founding Partner at Curated By Media Cameron Mitchell and Comedian and Actress, Erica Ash.

The finalists will receive an all-expense paid trip and (2) festival passes to the 23rd American Black Film Festival from June 12-16. Each finalist will then go toe-to-toe in a comedy battle on Friday, June 14th at the New World Center in Miami for a chance to win a $5,000 cash prize and attend an informational meeting with HBO talent executives. Comedian Deon Cole will host this highly popular night of hilarity at its best.

The Comedy Wings Competition is one of several platforms innovated by the ABFF that is designed to uncover talent and introduce them to a broader audience. ABFF has always participated in the cultivation of Black talent and has provided a stage over the years for dynamic performers such as Kevin Hart, Cedric the Entertainer, Craig Robinson, Tommy Davidson and Bill Bellamy.

“The Comedy Wings Competition highlights emerging comedians and allows us, through our long-time partnership with HBO, to showcase this talent to the entertainment industry. We’re very excited about this year’s lineup of finalists and expect one or more of them to a break out star,” said Jeff Friday, CEO of ABFF Ventures.

“HBO has been proudly supporting The Comedy Wings competition since its inception,” said Dennis Williams, Senior Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility, HBO. “It has become one of the highlights of the festival and we are thrilled to be able to open doors and provide opportunities to diverse, groundbreaking comedic voices. HBO has a longstanding reputation for discovering and nurturing talent and we are excited to laugh with the finalists that will grace the stage this year at the ABFF!”

This year’s five finalists are emerging comics from across the United States, with diverse styles and sensibilities. The 2019 ABFF Comedy Wings finalists are:

Allan Cunningham
Comedian Allan Cunningham is one of the last great storytellers. His laid-back demeanor allows him to paint a hilarious picture so vivid you can hang on the wall. Off stage you can catch him mastering his craft as an actor, director and writer.

Brian Tucker
From humble beginnings in Atlanta Georgia, Brian Tucker also known as B-Tuck, began his stand-up comedy career in 2013. He started regularly hosting at the Original Uptown Comedy Corner. As well as touring comedy clubs all across the east coast including Comedy Zone, Stardome, Zanies, Stand Up Live, and Atlanta Comedy Theater. Since starting his career, he has worked with major acts such as Ricky Smiley, Michael Colyer, Mark Curry, Kountry Wayne, Karlous Miller, and TK Kirkland.

Kevin D. White
Comedian Kevin D. White is an American stand-up comedian and writer that loves poking fun at cultural stereotypes one joke at a time. Being a native of Chicago, IL and with over 15 years in stand up, his creative content is undeniably funny. He has shared the stage with some of today’s leading legends such as, Katt Williams, Lil Rel, Hannibal Burress, Damon Williams, Faison Love and Deon Cole just to name a few. White is more than ready to become one of your favorite comedians.

Reginal Thomas
Reg Thomas has been moving across the country with his brand of smart comedy, in which he focuses on his upbringing and experiences in life. He is simply a productive stoner living in a crazy world, trying to make sense of it all. Thomas has produced content for media companies including BuzzFeed, Atlantic Records and KicksOnFire.com. He has written for Complex Magazine, been on Trutv for their show Jobs Unlisted and, also produces the touring comedy show Productively Stoned. He has toured with Amanda Seales, Chris Redd and Jordan Rock.

Tyana Davis
Tyana Davis, known professionally as Ty Davis, is a comedian, radio personality, writer, producer and actress. She is a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina but resides in Maryland. After her mother retired from the military in 2001, she moved to Baltimore where she started her comedy career almost five years ago. Ty frequently performs at The Baltimore Comedy Factory, DC Improv, various venues in the DMV and along the upper east coast. She is the host of The Morning After Show on DTLR Radio Monday through Friday 11am-2pm ET.

Festival passes are on sale at www.abff.com, and offer five (5) different levels of access to Festival events. Registration ends May 22nd for discounted rates. Questions regarding registration may be directed to [email protected].

Sponsors of the 2019 American Black Film Festival are HBO® (Founding and Presenting Sponsor); BET Networks, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), Comcast NBCUniversal (Presenting Sponsors); Capital One, Hilton, Prudential, Turner (Premier Sponsors); American Airlines, Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Sony, TV One (Official Sponsors); Accenture, Gentleman Jack, OWN, truTV, Warner Bros., Urban Movie Channel (UMC) (Supporting Sponsors); SAGIndie (Industry Partner); and Black Enterprise, Blackfilm.com (Media Partners).

ABFF Social Media Platforms:

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to empowering black artists and showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Committed to the belief that diverse artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the black filmmaking community by encouraging resource sharing, education and artistic collaboration. He ultimately envisioned it as a cornerstone of diversity in Hollywood. ABFF is the pre-eminent pipeline for black artists in front of and behind the camera, and has significantly expanded the range of talent working in entertainment. For more than two decades the festival has been a platform for emerging black artists — premiering the early work and showcasing the talent of many of today’s most successful actors, producers, writers, directors and stand-up comedians. As “the nation’s largest gathering of black film and television enthusiasts” the festival attracts a broad audience of A-list talent, emerging artists, upscale consumers and industry stakeholders. Approximately 7,000 to 10,000 people travel to Miami Beach each year for the event. The five-day festival opens with the premiere of an upcoming Hollywood release followed by independent film screenings, master classes, panels, celebrity talks, live entertainment, and a variety of networking and hospitality events.

ABOUT HBO:
HBO® is one of the most respected and innovative entertainment brands in the world, serving iconic, award-winning programming to 142 million subscribers globally. A subsidiary of WarnerMedia, HBO is the world’s most successful pay TV service with an extensive array of programming that includes some of the most notable titles to be on television including Game of Thrones®, Big Little Lies®, Westworld®, The Sopranos®, Sex and the City®, Band of Brothers®, and The Wire®. In the United States, HBO® and sister network Cinemax® are available across multiple platforms including HBO On Demand®, Cinemax On Demand®, HBO GO® and MAX GO®, as well as HBO NOW®. Internationally, HBO branded services, including television networks and the standalone streaming product HBO GO®, are available in more than 70 countries across Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. HBO and Cinemax programming is also sold into more than 150 countries worldwide.

PRESS CONTACT:

Strategic Heights Media
Michelle Huff Elliott
[email protected]
212-634-7176

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The ‘About Women’ Global Initiative Launches as a Panel at the 2019 American Black Film Festival

Panelists include Academy Award-winning Costume Designer Ruth E. Carter and writer/producer Tracy Oliver

Los Angeles, CA, (March 20, 2019) – The 23rd annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF), taking place in Miami June 12-16, launches ABOUT WOMEN, a global initiative dedicated to inspiring and uniting women of color in the film and television industry. The mission is to ensure that the voices of multicultural women in Hollywood are heard and their perspectives considered.

The ABOUT WOMEN panel will bring together a multigenerational group of women including filmmakers, actors, designers, and executives to discuss topics, issues, and opportunities specific to their experiences, including gendered language in the workplace, wage disparity, the #METOO movement and other inequities that adversely affect women of color in Hollywood.

Confirmed panelists include Academy Award-winning costume designer, Ruth E. Carter (Black Panther, Selma) and film/television writer and producer Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip, Little). More panelists to be confirmed. The session will be moderated by Emmy Award-winning journalist, Jemele Hill.

The panel will be held on Friday, June 14, 2019 from 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm in the Americana Ballroom 3 at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel and is sponsored by Hilton and Accenture.

“We wanted to create a platform where leading women in Hollywood could share their stories with other women around the world to help define clear pathways to success for aspiring female artists and executives in the entertainment industry,” says Nicole Friday, General Manager, ABFF Ventures.

ABFF remains committed to introducing emerging content creators of African descent to the industry at large and is recognized as one of the leading film festivals in the world. Passes are on sale at www.abff.com, and offer five (5) different levels of access to Festival events. Questions regarding registration may be directed to [email protected].

Sponsors of the 2019 American Black Film Festival are HBO® (Founding and Presenting Sponsor); BET Networks, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Comcast NBCUniversal (Presenting Sponsor); Capital One, Hilton, Turner (Premier Sponsor); American Airlines, Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Sony, TV One (Official Sponsor); and Accenture, Gentleman Jack, truTV, Warner Bros. (Supporting Partner).

ABFF Social Media Platforms:

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to empowering black artists and showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Committed to the belief that diverse artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the black filmmaking community by encouraging resource sharing, education and artistic collaboration. He ultimately envisioned it as a cornerstone of diversity in Hollywood. ABFF is the pre-eminent pipeline for black artists in front of and behind the camera, and has significantly expanded the range of talent working in entertainment. For more than two decades the festival has been a platform for emerging black artists — premiering the early work and showcasing the talent of many of today’s most successful actors, producers, writers, directors and stand-up comedians. As “the nation’s largest gathering of black film and television enthusiasts” the festival attracts a broad audience of A-list talent, emerging artists, upscale consumers and industry stakeholders. Approximately 7,000 to 10,000 people travel to Miami Beach each year for the event. The five-day festival opens with the premiere of an upcoming Hollywood release followed by independent film screenings, master classes, panels, celebrity talks, live entertainment, and a variety of networking and hospitality events.

PRESS CONTACT:

Strategic Heights Media
Michelle Huff Elliott
[email protected]
212-634-7176

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The Social Impact Showcase, a Section Dedicated To Socially Conscious Films, Launches at the 2019 American Black Film Festival

EVENT HOSTED BY ACTOR AND AUTHOR OMAR EPPS

Los Angeles, CA, (February 13, 2019) – The 23rd annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF), taking place in Miami June 12-16, launches the first Social Impact Showcase, a curated program dedicated to raising awareness of films based on cause-related themes, relevant to communities of color. This year’s theme Fatherhood: The Foundation of the Black Family will feature a collection of short films, followed by an engaging conversation with the directors, and the event host— actor and author Omar Epps.

The goal of this program is to change the narrative of Black fathers by highlighting their presence, importance and contribution to their families, and by extension, the Black community. Therefore, positively affecting society’s view of them. The event will take place during the Festival at the Loews Miami Beach on Saturday, June 15.

Epps knows the personal impact of being a present father within his family and openly recalls growing up without his biological father, then becoming one himself. He shares his story of pain and triumph in his new book, From Fatherless to Fatherhood that recognizes the many themes surrounding the importance of family and community.

“I’m thrilled to be working with Jeff Friday and the ABFF on this year’s newly minted fatherhood initiative. Fatherhood within our urban communities has been a painful issue en masse, but there are also several positive stories that don’t get highlighted. I’m looking forward to celebrating men who’ve succeeded in fatherhood and will share my own story as written in my first book, From Fatherless To Fatherhood,” says Omar Epps.

Below is the criteria for the Social Impact Showcase. Deadline for submissions is March 11th. Please visit: https://www.abff.com/miami/submissions/social-impact-showcase/ for more details.

Criteria:

  • Films must have a 30-minute maximum runtime
  • Section is open to US & international entries
  • Entrants must be 18 years of age or older
  • Writer, director, or producer must be a person of African descent, or the film content must have a multicultural perspective
  • Films must be in the English language or contain English-language subtitles
  • Films must have completed principal photography on or after January 1, 2018
  • Films that have been, or will be, broadcast or streamed on television or the internet, or released via any other public distribution platform (theatrical, Blu-ray, DVD, VOD, etc.) in any country prior to June 17, 2019, are not eligible for this category

ABFF remains committed to introducing emerging content creators of African descent to the industry at large and is recognized as one of the leading film festivals in the world. Passes are on sale at www.abff.com, and offer five (5) different levels of access to Festival events. Questions regarding registration may be directed to [email protected].

Sponsors of the 2019 American Black Film Festival are HBO® (Founding and Presenting Sponsor); Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Comcast NBCUniversal (Presenting Sponsor); Capital One, Turner (Premier Sponsor); American Airlines (Official Sponsor); and truTV, Warner Bros. (Supporting Partner).

ABFF Social Media Platforms:

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to empowering black artists and showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Committed to the belief that diverse artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the black filmmaking community by encouraging resource sharing, education and artistic collaboration. He ultimately envisioned it as a cornerstone of diversity in Hollywood. ABFF is the pre-eminent pipeline for black artists in front of and behind the camera, and has significantly expanded the range of talent working in entertainment. For more than two decades the festival has been a platform for emerging black artists — premiering the early work and showcasing the talent of many of today’s most successful actors, producers, writers, directors and stand-up comedians. As “the nation’s largest gathering of black film and television enthusiasts” the festival attracts a broad audience of A-list talent, emerging artists, upscale consumers and industry stakeholders. Approximately 7,000 to 10,000 people travel to Miami Beach each year for the event. The five-day festival opens with the premiere of an upcoming Hollywood release followed by independent film screenings, master classes, panels, celebrity talks, live entertainment, and a variety of networking and hospitality events.

PRESS CONTACT:

Strategic Heights Media
Michelle Huff Elliott
[email protected]
212-634-7176

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New Line Cinema’s “SHAFT” Selected as the Opening Night Film at the 2019 American Black Film Festival

SAMUEL L. JACKSON, JESSIE T. USHER, RICHARD ROUNDTREE, REGINA HALL & MORE STAR IN THE NEWEST CHAPTER OF THE FILM FRANCHISE

Los Angeles, CA, (February 5, 2019) – New Line Cinema’s action comedy Shaft will open the 2019 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) on June 12 at the New World Center in Miami. Opening nationwide on June 14, the latest film in the popular franchise is directed by Tim Story (“Ride Along,” “Think Like a Man” franchises) and stars three generations of John Shaft: Samuel L. Jackson (“Avengers: Infinity War,” “Glass”), Jessie T. Usher (“Independence Day: Resurgence”) and Richard Roundtree (“What Men Want”); along with Regina Hall (“Girls Trip”). The ABFF runs from June 12-16.

The new film follows JJ—aka John Shaft, Jr. (Usher)— as he works to uncover the truth behind his best friend’s untimely death. For this he will need an education only his dad can provide. Absent throughout JJ’s youth, the legendary locked-and-loaded John Shaft (Jackson) agrees to help his progeny navigate the streets of Harlem. And while JJ’s own FBI analyst’s badge may clash with his dad’s trademark leather duster, there’s no denying family. Besides, Shaft’s got an agenda of his own, and a score to settle that’s professional and personal.

Shaft also stars Alexandra Shipp (“X-Men: Apocalypse”), Titus Welliver (“Argo”) and Cliff “Method Man” Smith (“The Deuce,” “Keanu”). The screenplay is written by Kenya Barris (“Black-ish”) & Alex Barnow (“The Goldbergs”). John Davis produced the film, with Richard Brener, Josh Mack, Tim Story, Ira Napoliello, Kenya Barris, Marc S. Fischer serving as executive producers. Shaft will be in theaters nationwide June 14, 2019 and distributed in North America by Warner Bros. Pictures.

“We are thrilled Shaft will be the opening night film at the 2019 ABFF. The original classic film helped to define a genre that revolutionized black storytelling, not only for its powerful imagery and style, but also for Isaac Hayes’ award-winning soundtrack. Its impact is still significant in our culture today, and we are extremely excited to see Tim Story’s rendition of this brand new multi-generational feature,” says Nicole Friday, General Manager of ABFF Ventures.

ABFF remains committed to introducing emerging content creators of African descent to the industry at large and is recognized as one of the leading film festivals in the world. Festival passes are on sale now at www.abff.com, and offer five (5) different levels of access to festival events. Questions regarding registration may be directed to [email protected].

ABFF SOCIAL MEDIA:

Sponsors of the 2019 American Black Film Festival are HBO® (Founding and Presenting Sponsor); Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Comcast NBCUniversal (Presenting Sponsor); Capital One, Turner (Premier Sponsor); American Airlines (Official Sponsor); and truTV, Warner Bros. (Supporting Partner).

ABOUT ABFF:
ABFF Ventures, LLC (ABFFV) is a multifaceted entertainment company specializing in the production of live events and branded content. Its mission is to entertain and inspire communities of color while promoting diversify in Hollywood. Headquartered in Los Angeles, ABFFV was formed in 2014 and acquired the American Black Film Festival to widen the global footprint of the brand and stimulate business growth through expansion into other events and services. The company is a joint venture between Film Life, Inc and Black Enterprise, two prominent media and event companies, each with legacies of showcasing the best of African American culture and achievement. ABFFV’s tent-pole properties are the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), cited by MovieMaker Magazine as “One of the Coolest Festivals in the World,” and “ABFF Honors,” a televised annual awards gala saluting the top stars of film and television. In creating ABFF Ventures, CEO Jeff Friday channeled his passion for film and television, as well as his discomfort with the underrepresentation of people of color in Hollywood, into an organization with the ultimate goal of advocating for diversity within the entertainment industry. Through his vision and perseverance, ABFF Ventures has become a highly respected enterprise, generating goodwill throughout the Hollywood and corporate communities. In 2018, the company expanded with the launch of ABFF Studios, a division that produces branded entertainment.

PRESS CONTACT:

Strategic Heights Media
Michelle Huff Elliott
[email protected]
212-634-7176

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Actress/Producer La La Anthony Will Serve as the 2019 American Black Film Festival Ambassador

THE 23RD FESTIVAL RETURNS TO MIAMI JUNE 12-16, 2019

Los Angeles, CA, (January 25, 2019) – Today, ABFF Ventures announced actress, producer, author and entrepreneur La La Anthony will serve as the 2019 American Black Film Festival’s Ambassador, to be held in Miami Beach, June 12-16.

“It is an honor to be named the 2019 ABFF Ambassador. I have admired the work of the American Black Film Festival for many years and am looking forward to being a part of the great work they do in the black film community,” expressed Anthony.

La La currently stars in the #1 hit show, “Power” as Lakeisha Grant on the STARZ Network and recently served as Executive Producer of the hit BET docu-series “Killer Curves.” Her film credits include the critically-acclaimed Spike Lee film, Chi-Raq, ABFF alum and producer Will Packer’s Think Like a Man and Think Like a Man Too, and David E. Talbert’s Baggage Claim. On stage, she starred in the Off Broadway play “Love, Loss and What I Wore” and also produced the 2016 Tony Award nominated play “Eclipsed,” starring Lupita Nyong’o. La La is also a #1 New York Times best-selling author of two books, The Love Playbook and The Power Playbook.

“La La Anthony’s recent work in both film and television is a reflection of the American Black Film Festival’s mission—showcasing the talent of today’s successful diverse artists,” says Jeff Friday, CEO and founder of ABFF Ventures. “We are happy to have La La as our 2019 ABFF Ambassador and hope to see you in Miami this June.”

Previous Ambassadors have included: Tracee Ellis Ross, Regina Hall, Idris Elba, Jay Ellis, Taraji P. Henson, Morris Chestnut, Omari Hardwick and Common.

ABFF remains committed to introducing emerging content creators of African descent to the industry at large and is recognized as one of the leading film festivals in the world. Festival passes are on sale now at www.abff.com, and offer three different levels of access to the Festival. Questions regarding registration, sponsorship and programming, should be directed to [email protected]. The 2019 Festival will continue the annual celebration of highlighting Black filmmakers. Attendees will enjoy celebrity conversations, panels, master classes, spotlight screenings and independent films and more.

ABFF SOCIAL MEDIA:

Sponsors of the 2019 American Black Film Festival are HBO® (Founding and Presenting Sponsor); Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Comcast NBCUniversal (Presenting Sponsor); Capitol One, Turner (Premier Sponsor); American Airlines (Official Sponsor); and truTV (Supporting Partner).

ABOUT ABFF:
ABFF Ventures, LLC (ABFFV) is a multifaceted entertainment company specializing in the production of live events and branded content. Its mission is to entertain and inspire communities of color while promoting diversify in Hollywood. Headquartered in Los Angeles, ABFFV was formed in 2014 and acquired the American Black Film Festival to widen the global footprint of the brand and stimulate business growth through expansion into other events and services. The company is a joint venture between Film Life, Inc and Black Enterprise, two prominent media and event companies, each with legacies of showcasing the best of African American culture and achievement. ABFFV’s tent-pole properties are the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), cited by MovieMaker Magazine as “One of the Coolest Festivals in the World,” and “ABFF Honors,” a televised annual awards gala saluting the top stars of film and television. In creating ABFF Ventures, CEO Jeff Friday channeled his passion for film and television, as well as his discomfort with the underrepresentation of people of color in Hollywood, into an organization with the ultimate goal of advocating for diversity within the entertainment industry. Through his vision and perseverance, ABFF Ventures has become a highly respected enterprise, generating goodwill throughout the Hollywood and corporate communities. In 2018, the company expanded with the launch of ABFF Studios, a division that produces branded entertainment.

PRESS CONTACT:

Strategic Heights Media
Michelle Huff Elliott
[email protected]
212-634-7176

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Film Submissions Open for the 2019 American Black Film Festival

Los Angeles, CA, (January 24, 2019) – The 23rd annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) returns to Miami from June 12-16, 2019 and continues to showcase quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Film submissions are now open in four competitive categories: Narrative Features, Documentary Features, Web Series and the HBO® Short Film Competition. Over $50,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded to the winners at the Festival’s Best of ABFF Awards presentation. Festival attendees will also have their choice of over seventy programs and events, including celebrity conversations, panels, master classes, spotlight screenings and hospitality lounges.

Last year’s Festival celebrated diverse filmmakers and presented attendees with an array of films including: Jury Award winner for Best Director and Audience Award winner “Sprinter,” directed by Storm Salter, Best Web Series winner “KELOID U.S.A.,” directed by Huriyyah Muhammad, and Jury Award winner for Best Screenplay “JINN,” by Nijla Mumin.

Below is a brief description for each category. For complete submission criteria and eligibility visit www.abff.com/submissions.

Narrative Feature – Submission Deadline: February 15, 2019

  • Best Narrative Feature – Prize $5,000
  • Best Director, Narrative Feature – Prize $5,000
  • Best Screenplay, Narrative Feature – Prize $2,500
  • NBC Actor Spotlight Award – Prize TBD
  • Best Narrative Feature – Prize TBD

Documentary Feature – Submission Deadline: February 15, 2019

  • Best Documentary – Prize $2,500

HBO® Short Film Competition – Submission Deadline: February 15, 2019

  • HBO® Short Film Award – Prize $30,000

Web Series – Submission Deadline January 31, 2019

  • Best Web Series – Prize TBD

World Showcase – Submission Deadline February 15, 2019

  • Non-Competitive

Social Impact Showcase – Submission Deadline March 11, 2019

  • Non-Competitive

ABFF remains committed to introducing emerging content creators of African descent to the industry at large and is recognized as one of the leading film festivals in the world. Festival passes are on sale now at www.abff.com, and offer five (5) different levels of access to festival events. Questions regarding registration may be directed to [email protected].

ABFF SOCIAL MEDIA:

Sponsors of the 2019 American Black Film Festival are HBO® (Founding and Presenting Sponsor); Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Comcast NBCUniversal (Presenting Sponsor); Capitol One, Turner (Premier Sponsor); American Airlines (Official Sponsor); and truTV (Supporting Sponsor).

ABOUT ABFF:
ABFF Ventures, LLC (ABFFV) is a multifaceted entertainment company specializing in the production of live events and branded content. Its mission is to entertain and inspire communities of color while promoting diversify in Hollywood. Headquartered in Los Angeles, ABFFV was formed in 2014 and acquired the American Black Film Festival to widen the global footprint of the brand and stimulate business growth through expansion into other events and services. The company is a joint venture between Film Life, Inc and Black Enterprise, two prominent media and event companies, each with legacies of showcasing the best of African American culture and achievement. ABFFV’s tent-pole properties are the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), cited by MovieMaker Magazine as “One of the Coolest Festivals in the World,” and “ABFF Honors,” a televised annual awards gala saluting the top stars of film and television. In creating ABFF Ventures, CEO Jeff Friday channeled his passion for film and television, as well as his discomfort with the underrepresentation of people of color in Hollywood, into an organization with the ultimate goal of advocating for diversity within the entertainment industry. Through his vision and perseverance, ABFF Ventures has become a highly respected enterprise, generating goodwill throughout the Hollywood and corporate communities. In 2018, the company expanded with the launch of ABFF Studios, a division that produces branded entertainment.

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CALLING ALL FILMMAKERS. SUBMIT NOW!

Entries open for second year of American Black Film Festival & Lightbox Documentary Initiative

Initiative fosters diversity and supports emerging African American directing talent

(August 2, 2018) – Award-winning production company Lightbox and the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) have announced that the second year of their Initiative to foster diversity in the feature documentary arena is now open for entries. The ABFF & Lightbox Documentary Initiative is aimed at African American filmmakers and any filmmakers interested in exploring non-fiction stories and themes that speak directly to the African American experience.

Selected films from the Initiative will be developed and produced by Lightbox and ABFF Studios, leveraging Lightbox’s success in producing award-winning and commercially successful documentaries, with the ABFF’s unparalleled pipeline and record of accomplishment for identifying many of the industry’s most promising Black filmmakers.

More information about the Initiative and entry information can be found at: http://abffventures.com/film/documentary-feature-initiative/

The winner of the inaugural year of the Initiative, Storm Over Brooklyn, has been greenlit for production by HBO. Directed by Muta’Ali, the feature documentary tells the story of Yusuf Hawkins, a black American teenager who was shot and murdered after being trapped by a group of white youths in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, in 1989.

Jonathan Chinn and Simon Chinn, Co-Founders of Lightbox said: “Supporting filmmakers from minority communities and creating content which reflects every aspect of our society is one of the most important things we can do as documentary makers if we want the genre to remain relevant and engaging to audiences. We are honored to be launching the second year of this Initiative, and look forward to the winning project being just as prestigious as last year’s winner.”

“Authenticity within documentary filmmaking is paramount. The mission behind the Lightbox and ABFF Documentary Initiative is to help increase the opportunities and access for filmmakers of color, bringing new voices to the world stage. HBO is the perfect home for our first project Storm Over Brooklyn, we’re eager to discover and help develop the next,” said Jeff Friday, Founder & CEO of ABFF Ventures.

Storm Over Brooklyn is directed by Muta’Ali and executive produced by Jeff Friday, Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn. Academy Award®-winning directors Daniel Lindsay and TJ Martin, who directed Lightbox’s Emmy® award-winning feature documentary about the 1992 Los Angeles riots, LA 92, have also come on board the project as Executive Producers and supporters of the initiative.

Lightbox was founded by Academy Award®-winning producer Simon Chinn (Man on Wire, Searching for Sugar Man, Whitney) and Emmy® Award-winning producer Jonathan Chinn (LA 92, Fantastic Lies, Whitney). Whitney, Lightbox’s theatrical feature documentary about the global superstar, directed by Academy Award® winner Kevin Macdonald, had a special screening at the 2018 American Black Film Festival and was released worldwide this month. The company recently announced a new theatrical feature documentary, Tina Turner (working title), which will tell the full story – for the first time – of the global icon and undisputed Queen of Rock and Roll, to be directed by Dan Lindsay and TJ Martin.

ABOUT LIGHTBOX:
Headquartered in London and Los Angeles, Lightbox is a multi-platform media company creating high quality non-fiction content for an array of distribution platforms. It was founded by two-time Academy Award®-winning producer Simon Chinn (Man on Wire, Searching for Sugar Man, Whitney) and Emmy®-winning producer Jonathan Chinn (LA 92, American High, Whitney). Lightbox’s most recent release is Whitney, a major theatrical feature documentary directed by Academy Award® winner Kevin Macdonald, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival; The company is currently in production on Diagnosis (w/t) an innovative Netflix Original eight-part documentary series produced in partnership with Scott Rudin Productions and The New York Times; Citizen Harvey (w/t) a theatrical documentary on the Weinstein scandal which will also air on BBC 2; Tina Turner (w/t), a theatrical feature documentary which will tell the full story – for the first time – of global icon and undisputed Queen of Rock and Roll, directed by Academy® and Emmy Award winners Dan Lindsay and TJ Martin; Gypsy’s Revenge, a feature length documentary for Investigation Discovery and Food Exposed with Nelufar Hedayat (8×60′) for US Network FUSION. The company has previously produced documentary series including Captive, a major 8-part series for Netflix about international hostage crises; LA92, an Emmy-winning feature documentary on the 1992 LA riots for National Geographic Channels; War Child – an acclaimed feature documentary on the refugee crisis for Channel 4; Absolutely Fashion: Inside British Vogue for BBC Two and The Traffickers for Fusion, as well as content for Xbox Entertainment Studios, NBC Universal’s Esquire Network and ESPN’s prestigious 30 for 30 Strand.

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. The festival is committed to the belief that Black artists and content creators deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts. ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to promote diversity in the motion picture industry, and strengthen the Black filmmaking community through resource sharing, education, artistic collaboration and career development. For more than two decades, the ABFF has been the standard-bearer of excellence in independent Black cinema, having premiered the works and supported the careers of many of today’s most successful artists, including Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), Anthony Anderson (Blackish), Will Packer (Girls Trip), Issa Rae (Insecure), Omari Hardwick (Power) and Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro). Today, it is the preeminent pipeline for Black talent, in front of and behind the camera, significantly expanding the range of talent in the entertainment industry at large. The ABFF is a property of ABFF Ventures LLC, a multifaceted entertainment company specializing in the production of live events, television and digital content, targeted to upscale African American audiences. The company is a joint venture between Film Life Inc. and Black Enterprise, two prominent media and event companies, each with legacies of showcasing the best of African American culture and achievement in media and entertainment.

PRESS CONTACT:

For Lightbox
Mark Ogle
OH Communications
[email protected]
+44 (0) 7789 981 561

For ABFF
Michelle Huff Elliott
Strategic Heights Media
[email protected]
212-634-7176

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The 2018 American Black Film Festival was a Sold-Out Affair

FILM SCREENINGS, CONVERSATIONS, PANELS, PARTIES AND RED CARPET EVENTS FILLED THE WEEK WITH EXCITING AND INFORMATIVE PROGRAMMING

New York, NY (June 18, 2018) – The 2018 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) wrapped another successful year of screenings, red carpet events, panels and competitions to a sold-out group of attendees. The event took place in Miami Beach, FL from June 13-17th.

The festival kicked off with the ABFF Creators Summit, hosted by CAA and Cadillac returned as a partner of ABFF for the eighth consecutive year, hosting a Drive for media, as well as an exclusive welcome luncheon. Actors LeToya Luckett and Tristan “Mack” Wilds engaged in a compelling panel conversation, moderated by Allison McGevna, VP of Women’s Lifestyle at iOne, about the state of Black Hollywood today.

Sony Pictures and the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) presented the opening night screening of SUPERFLY at the historic Fillmore Theater, where attendees had a chance to mix and mingle before viewing the film. ABFF Ventures founder and CEO, Jeff Friday, welcomed the crowd, along with this year’s celebrity ambassador, Jay Ellis, while the entire cast–Trevor Jackson, Big Boi, Rick Ross, Future, Jason Mitchell, Michael K. Williams, Jacob Latimore–and Director X introduced the film.

Additional films that screened throughout the festival included Universal Pictures’ THE FIRST PURGE, starring Y’lan Noel (Insecure) and Lex Scott Davis (Tales); BET showcased clips from THE BOBBY BROWN STORY starring Woody McClain and Laz Alonso; TNT’s CLAWS, starring Niecy Nash and Karrueche Tran; WHITNEY, the documentary on the life of the late icon Whitney Houston and HBO surprised the audience with the premiere of the new series, RANDOM ACTS OF FLYNESS. Each screening was immediately followed by a Q&A session with members of the cast.

At the Loews Miami Beach, there were several company activations for attendees to experience: Cadillac’s VR Lounge welcomed festival goers to come and build the first-ever XT4 Sport crossover with an immersive virtual reality experience, as well as have the opportunity to receive a limited edition 2018 ABFF T-Shirt. A number of ABFF sponsors hosted events at the ABFF Industry Expo, including: TV One’s meet and greet with the cast of DOWN FOR WHATEVER and actors from ATL HOMICIDE; Comcast Xfinity’s exhibit celebrated Black Music Month with a special celebrity meet and greet featuring TV and music stars, Ryan Destiny, Jacob Latimore and the cast of THE FIRST PURGE; visitors of the Planned Parenthood Federation Of America exhibit learned more about incorporating accurate and nuanced stories related to our bodies and sexuality, and what it means to Stand With Black Women and more.

There were several conversations held over the four-day festival. The ABFF Talks: A Conversation with Ryan Coogler was moderated by Nischelle Turner (Entertainment Tonight). The Black Panther director and ABFF alum discussed his journey and outstanding accomplishments. Prudential sponsored Cocktails, Conversations & Financial Facts with actor Tobias Truvillion (IN CONTEMPT) and thought leaders discussed ways to achieve financial goals. Prudential professionals were also available to answer financial questions.

A big attraction for aspiring filmmakers and actors were the many Business of Entertainment panels at ABFF. This year’s line-up included Killer Creativity: A New Breed with directors and ABFF alums Qasim Basir, Storm Saulter and Deniese Davis from Issa Rae Productions/Color Creative, sponsored by BET; Verizon’s Without A Net: The Digital Divide in America screening and conversation with Mimi Valdés and Jesse Williams, and more.

Every year, the festival’s panels are a big hit: NBCUniversal’s First Look panels involved discussions with the casts of The First Purge (Y’lan Noel, Lex Scott Davis, Gerard McMurray), Marlon and Trial & Error (Sherri Shepherd, Essence Atkins, Bresha Webb, Diallo Riddle); the Hot In Hollywood panel with Kofi Siriboe, Jacob Latimore, Logan Browning, Ashley Blaine Featherson and Bresha Webb, moderated by Dondre Whitfield and sponsored by American Airlines.

“I am really proud of this year’s content at the festival. As ABFF continues to grow, we will also seek to remain true to our core programming initiatives, which are education, artistic expression, collaboration, access and recognition. I believe we truly accomplished our goal and will continue to bring more opportunities for content creators of color in 2019,” says Jeff Friday, CEO of ABFF Ventures.

The parties at ABFF are always memorable with the opening night party at Story Nightclub, the Legendary White Party at Nikki Beach and the “It’s So Miami” closing night party at the Betsy Hotel.

On the last day of the festival, ABFF always recognizes the accomplishments of the next generation of filmmakers at their annual awards presentation. Actor/Producer Chris Spencer hosted the “Best of ABFF” Awards at the New World Center. During the ceremony, American Black Film Festival founder, Jeff Friday received the key to the city of Miami Beach from Commissioner Ricky Arriola and Ruban Roberts-Miami Dade NAACP President. It was also announced that ABFF signed a deal to return to Miami Beach for the next three years. The 2019 American Black Film Festival will be held in Miami Beach from June 12-16, 2019.

Here is the full list of the 2018 American Black Film Festival Winners:

2018 ABFF WINNERS LIST

2018 HBO SHORT FILM AWARD, sponsored by HBO (Prize: $10,000)
“Moths and Butterflies” written and directed by Alfonso Johnson

2018 TV ONE SCREENPLAY COMPETITION WINNER (Prize: $5,000 and a production deal)
“Connected” – written by Rashim Cannad

2018 TRU TV COMEDY WRITERS COMPETITION (Prize: $5,000)
Harold Williams “Wait…What Had Happened Was”

2018 TURNER TV WRITING CONTEST WINNERS (Prize: $500/each)
Craig T. Williams “Allergic” (Comedy)
Terrence L. Moore “Uptown” (Drama)

2018 BEST WEB SERIES, sponsored by Xfinity (Prize: $3,000)
“KELOID U.S.A.,” written, produced and directed by Huriyyah Muhammad

2018 JURY AWARD FOR BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE, sponsored by Prudential (Prize: $5,000)
“Sprinter” directed by Storm Saulter

2018 JURY AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR, sponsored by Cadillac (Prize: $5,000)
Storm Saulter, “Sprinter”

2018 JURY AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY, presented by ABFF (Prize: $2 500)
“Not in My Neighbourhood,” directed by Kurt Orderson

2018 JURY AWARD FOR BEST SCREENPLAY, sponsored by Time Warner
“JINN,” by Nijla Mumin

2018 AUDIENCE AWARD, sponsored by BET Networks (Prize: $10,000)
“Sprinter,” directed by Storm Saulter

2018 NBC HOSTING WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS
Kamie Crawford
Winston Marshall

2018 NBC SPOTLIGHT ACTOR AWARD (Prize: $5,000)
Zoe Renee, performance in “JINN”

2018 SCRIPT TO SCREEN COMPETITION, sponsored by BET Networks and Color Creative
Courtney Perdue & Baindu Saidu, “African-America”
April Blair, “Curves”
Darnell Brown, “The Good Book”

2018 ABFF COMEDY WINGS WINNER, sponsored by HBO (Prize: $2,500)
Blaq Ron

Join the conversation on social media by logging on to ABFF’s multiple social media platforms:

Sponsors for the 2018 American Black Film Festival are: HBO® (Founding and Presenting Sponsor); Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (Host and Presenting Sponsor); TV One, Cadillac, Comcast NBCUniversal (Presenting Sponsors); AT&T, BET, Prudential Financial, Turner (Premier Sponsors); AMC, American Airlines, Codeblack Films, Hennessy, The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Sony Pictures, Verizon (Official Sponsors); aspireTV, Comcast Spotlight, Facebook, FX Networks, Gentleman Jack, Google, Miami Beach VCA, Laugh Out Loud Networks, OWN, Netflix, Streampix, Time Warner, truTV, The Walt Disney Company, YouTube Originals (Supporting Sponsors); Arrington & Phillips LLP, Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), Color of Change, Deluxe, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, SAGIndie, Technicolor, Urban Movie Channel, Walter Kaitz Foundation, Warner Bros. (Industry Partners) and Black Enterprise, Essence, TheGrio.com (Media Partners).

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. The festival is committed to the belief that Black artists and content creators deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts. ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to promote diversity in the motion picture industry and strengthen the Black filmmaking community through resource sharing, education, artistic collaboration and career development. For more than two decades, the ABFF has been the standard-bearer of excellence in independent Black cinema, having premiered the works and supported the careers of many of today’s most successful artists, including Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), Anthony Anderson (Blackish), Will Packer (Girls Trip), Issa Rae (Insecure), Omari Hardwick (Power) and Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro). Today, it is the preeminent pipeline for Black artists, in front of and behind the camera, significantly expanding the range of talent in the entertainment industry at large. The ABFF is a property of ABFF Ventures LLC, a multifaceted entertainment company specializing in the production of live events, television and digital content targeted to upscale African American audiences. The company is a joint venture between Film Life Inc. and Black Enterprise, two prominent media and event companies, each with legacies of showcasing the best of Black culture and achievement.

PRESS CONTACT:

Strategic Heights Media
Michelle Huff Elliott
[email protected]
212-634-7176

,

HBO Orders ‘Storm Over Brooklyn’ Doc from ABFF and ‘Whitney’ Producers

Directed by Muta’Ali, this is the first project from the initiative created in 2017 by award-winning non-fiction production company, Lightbox, and the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) to foster diversity in documentary filmmaking.

ABFF and Lightbox announce second year of the initiative to discover and support emerging African American documentary directing talent.

Miami, (June 18, 2018) – HBO has greenlit Storm Over Brooklyn, the winning project of the inaugural Feature Documentary Initiative created in 2017 by award-winning production company Lightbox and the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), as part of their joint initiative to foster diversity in the feature documentary arena.

Storm Over Brooklyn is a feature documentary, directed by Muta’Ali and tells the story of Yusuf Hawkins, a black American teenager who was shot and murdered after being trapped by a group of white youths in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, on the evening of August 23, 1989. Sixteen-year-old Hawkins had come to Bensonhurst with three friends to look at a used car, when they were attacked by the hostile mob, whose members mistakenly believed that Hawkins was dating a neighborhood girl who was white. The incident shocked New York and the world and unleashed a torrent of racial tension in an already divided city and led to televised protests and marches. The growing unrest contributed to the ousting of New York City Mayor Ed Koch in favour of David Dinkins, who became the city’s first — and as of now, only — African American mayor.

Storm Over Brooklyn was conceived by director Muta’Ali and selected from more than 300 submissions to the initiative, which was open to all African American documentary filmmakers and any documentary filmmakers interested in exploring non-fiction stories and themes that speak directly to the African American experience.

Muta’Ali said: “Yusuf Hawkins’ murder had a major effect on the public, and the locked away regret and sorrow questions a history that those involved have held onto for nearly 30 years. We will finally see the light of day in the context of our time. This is due to the courage of Yusuf’s loving family, as well as the visionary talent teams at HBO, Lightbox and ABFF.”

“We are genuinely thrilled that HBO has greenlit Storm over Brooklyn – a powerful, timely film which feels so relevant to today’s audience even though the events it depicts took place 30 years ago,” said Lightbox co-founders Jonathan Chinn and Simon Chinn. “Muta’Ali is a talented and passionate director who is perfectly placed to bring this highly relevant story to the screen and we are proud to support his vision. We are delighted to be working once again with our friends at HBO Documentary Films whose reputation for high-quality, thought-provoking documentaries make it the perfect home for this project and we’re honoured to be working in partnership with them to nurture and support new, diverse creative talent.”

“It’s an honor to partner with HBO Documentary Films on Storm Over Brooklyn which is a natural extension of the ABFF HBO relationship. Together, we have been fostering diverse storytellers in the narrative space for 22 years. Expanding into the documentary space and production is a very exciting opportunity for ABFF and the filmmakers who come through our talent pipeline programs. We could not have wished for a more fitting home than HBO,” said Jeff Friday, Founder & CEO of ABFF Ventures, LLC.

Lightbox and the ABFF announced today that the second year of this multi-year program will open for entries on July 18, 2018. Go to www.abffventures.com for more information. Selected films will be developed and produced by Lightbox and ABFF Studios, leveraging Lightbox’s success in producing award-winning and commercially successful documentaries, with the ABFF’s unparalleled pipeline and record of accomplishment for identifying many of the industry’s most promising Black filmmakers. This collaboration will help to elevate unique perspectives and vision in the documentary space.

Storm Over Brooklyn is directed by Muta’Ali and executive produced by Jeff Friday, Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn. Academy Award®-winning directors Daniel Lindsay and TJ Martin, who directed Lightbox’s Emmy® award-winning feature documentary about the 1992 Los Angeles riots, LA 92, have also come on board the project as Executive Producers and supporters of the initiative.

Lightbox was founded by Academy Award®-winning producer Simon Chinn (Man on Wire, Searching for Sugar Man, Whitney) and Emmy® award-winning producer Jonathan Chinn (LA 92, Fantastic Lies, Whitney).

Lightbox’s Whitney, the theatrical feature documentary about the global superstar, directed by Academy Award® winner Kevin Macdonald, screens at the American Black Film Festival this week ahead of its nationwide US release on July 6th. The company recently announced a new theatrical feature documentary, Tina Turner (working title), which will tell the full story – for the first time – of the global icon and undisputed Queen of Rock and Roll, to be directed by Dan Lindsay and TJ Martin.

Media Contact:

For Lightbox
Mark Ogle, OH Communications: +44 (0) 7789 981 561; [email protected]

For ABFF
Michelle Huff Elliott, Strategic Heights Media, 212-634-7176; [email protected]

Notes to editors:

  • Information about entries for the second competition will be made available on the ABFF websites shortly.
  • Jeff Friday and Lightbox are represented by Creative Artists Agency (CAA).

ABOUT LIGHTBOX:
Headquartered in London and Los Angeles, Lightbox is a multi-platform media company creating high quality non-fiction content for an array of distribution platforms. It was founded by two-time Academy Award®-winning producer Simon Chinn (Man on Wire, Searching for Sugar Man, Whitney) and Emmy®-winning producer Jonathan Chinn (LA 92, American High, Whitney). Lightbox’s most recent release is Whitney, a major theatrical feature documentary directed by Academy Award® winner Kevin Macdonald, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival; The company is currently in production on Diagnosis (w/t) an innovative Netflix Original eight-part documentary series produced in partnership with Scott Rudin Productions and The New York Times; Citizen Harvey (w/t) a theatrical documentary on the Weinstein scandal which will also air on BBC 2; Tina Turner (w/t), a theatrical feature documentary which will tell the full story – for the first time – of global icon and undisputed Queen of Rock and Roll, directed by Academy® and Emmy Award winners Dan Lindsay and TJ Martin; Gypsy’s Revenge, a feature length documentary for Investigation Discovery and Food Exposed with Nelufar Hedayat (8×60′) for US Network FUSION. The company has previously produced documentary series including Captive, a major 8-part series for Netflix about international hostage crises; LA92, an Emmy-winning feature documentary on the 1992 LA riots for National Geographic Channels; War Child – an acclaimed feature documentary on the refugee crisis for Channel 4; Absolutely Fashion: Inside British Vogue for BBC Two and The Traffickers for Fusion, as well as content for Xbox Entertainment Studios, NBC Universal’s Esquire Network and ESPN’s prestigious 30 for 30 Strand.

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. The festival is committed to the belief that Black artists and content creators deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts. ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to promote diversity in the motion picture industry, and strengthen the Black filmmaking community through resource sharing, education, artistic collaboration and career development. For more than two decades, the ABFF has been the standard-bearer of excellence in independent Black cinema, having premiered the works and supported the careers of many of today’s most successful artists, including Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), Anthony Anderson (Blackish), Will Packer (Girls Trip), Issa Rae (Insecure), Omari Hardwick (Power) and Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro). Today, it is the preeminent pipeline for Black talent, in front of and behind the camera, significantly expanding the range of talent in the entertainment industry at large. The ABFF is a property of ABFF Ventures LLC, a multifaceted entertainment company specializing in the production of live events, television and digital content, targeted to upscale African American audiences. The company is a joint venture between Film Life Inc. and Black Enterprise, two prominent media and event companies, each with legacies of showcasing the best of African American culture and achievement in media and entertainment.

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The American Black Film Festival Opening Night Set for SUPERFLY

–ABFF’s Premiere Screening of Sony Pictures Film, directed by Director X, to Be Wednesday, June 13–

New York, New York (May 24, 2018) – In celebration of the nationwide release of Superfly, in theaters June 13, the 2018 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) will open with the festival’s premiere screening of Sony Pictures’ Superfly on that same night at the Fillmore Theater in Miami Beach, Florida. Directed by the acclaimed Director X, director of legendary music videos for such artists as Drake and Rihanna, and starring Trevor Jackson (“Grown-ish”), the film’s original soundtrack has been curated and produced by Future, who also produces the film with Joel Silver (The Matrix trilogy, Die Hard).

The film also stars Jason Mitchell (Mudbound, Straight Outta Compton), Michael Kenneth Williams (“The Wire,” “Boardwalk Empire”), Lex Scott Davis (“Training Day,” the upcoming The First Purge), Jennifer Morrison (“Once Upon a Time,” “House”), and Andrea Londo (“Narcos”). The film also features cameo appearances by Rick Ross and Antwan “Big Boi” Patton. The screenplay is by Alex Tse.

“We are thrilled Superfly will be the opening night film at the 2018 ABFF. For many, the title resonates as a cultural touchstone, not only for the look and style of the film itself, but also for Curtis Mayfield’s legendary soundtrack, and for its place in history – Superfly is one of the few films of its era that featured African-American characters with agency and power. In bringing Superfly to a new generation, Director X has transitioned a timeless classic into a modern day, entertaining film that will be enjoyed by all,” said Jeff Friday, CEO of ABFF VENTURES.

Director X added, “I am excited for ABFF’s premiere of Superfly in Miami. The original Super Fly from 1972 is a classic and we all felt a responsibility to that legacy. I directed a film that builds on the special elements of the original and evolves them for 2018. The story, fashion, cars, hair and music all have added relevance for today with an extra twist of style. It’s all Superfly. Thank you Jeff Friday for welcoming my movie to the 2018 fest.”

To purchase passes, tickets for events, panels and screenings at the American Black Film Festival, log on to https://www.abff.com/miami/festival-passes/.

Join the conversation on social media by logging on to ABFF’s multiple social media platforms:

Sponsors for the 2018 American Black Film Festival are HBO® (Founding and Presenting Sponsor); Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (Host and Presenting Sponsor); TV One, Cadillac, Comcast NBCUniversal (Presenting Sponsors); BET, Prudential Financial, Turner (Premier Sponsors); AMC, American Airlines, Codeblack Films, The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Sony Pictures, Verizon (Official Sponsors); ASPiRE, Facebook, Gentleman Jack, LOL Networks, Miami Beach VCA, Netflix, OWN, Streampix, truTV (Supporting Sponsors); and Creative Artists Agency (CAA), Google, SAGIndie, Warner Bros., Walter Kaitz Foundation (Industry Partners).

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. The festival is committed to the belief that Black artists and content creators deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts. ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to promote diversity in the motion picture industry and strengthen the Black filmmaking community through resource sharing, education, artistic collaboration and career development. For more than two decades, the ABFF has been the standard-bearer of excellence in independent Black cinema, having premiered the works and supported the careers of many of today’s most successful artists, including Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), Anthony Anderson (Blackish), Will Packer (Girls Trip), Issa Rae (Insecure), Omari Hardwick (Power) and Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro). Today, it is the preeminent pipeline for Black artists, in front of and behind the camera, significantly expanding the range of talent in the entertainment industry at large. The ABFF is a property of ABFF Ventures LLC, a multifaceted entertainment company specializing in the production of live events, television and digital content targeted to upscale African American audiences. The company is a joint venture between Film Life Inc. and Black Enterprise, two prominent media and event companies, each with legacies of showcasing the best of Black culture and achievement.

ABOUT SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT:
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment Inc., which is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE’s global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition, and distribution; television production, acquisition, and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. SPE’s Motion Picture Group production organizations include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films, AFFIRM Films, and Sony Pictures Classics. For additional information, visit http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/divisions.html.